Fearing the worst

From The Guardian (edited) -

Aung San Suu Kyi 'preparing for worst' as trial nears end

The trial of Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi entered its final phase today, with both sides expected to present closing arguments before a verdict is delivered in two to three weeks.

Although the prosecution was expected to wind up its case against the Nobel prize winner today, her lawyer said a verdict was not imminent. "I expect all the arguments will be made today but I think the verdict might take as long as two or three weeks," Nyan Win told Reuters.

Nyan Win said his client was "preparing for the worst" at the end of a trial that the junta's critics have denounced as an excuse to keep Suu Kyi incarcerated during national elections next year.

Statements were expected from Aung San Suu Kyi's longtime companions, Khin Khin Win and her daughter Win Ma Ma. The women, members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), also face up to five years in prison.

The NLD won a landslide victory in elections in 1990, but the ruling generals refused to recognise the result.

The junta has so far resisted international calls for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release. Last week, the state-controlled media accused the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, of "interference" after she said a satisfactory conclusion to the trial could lead to better economic ties with Washington.

In demanding her release, western critics of the regime were showing "reckless disregard for the law", the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said. "The court will hand down a reasonable term to her if she is found guilty, and it will release her if she is found not guilty," it added.

Most of the trial has been conducted behind closed doors since it began on 18 May.
Diplomats have been allowed to witness four hearings, with observers from the US, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia reportedly granted access to this morning's proceedings.

A diplomatic source said Aung San Suu Kyi, who is being held at Insein prison in the capital, Rangoon, had appeared "fit, healthy and in sparkling form" when she appeared in court last Friday.